NPR

Blake wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:35 am Curfew makes a lot of sense.
Annoying, but a very small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things.

It curbs 3 things: late night partying that will be impossible to contact trace, drunk driving and street racing...all things that are an unnessasary drain on resources.

For me it creates these 3 situations.
Early start to weekend parties . Saturday night we started at 6. Finished by 10. Of course because we knew there was a curfew we drank hard and fast. So driving home was pretty much the same. I never get to see street car racing. You should let me know where so I can explore this hidden gem.

Sards wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:12 pm

Blake wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:35 am Curfew makes a lot of sense.
Annoying, but a very small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things.

It curbs 3 things: late night partying that will be impossible to contact trace, drunk driving and street racing...all things that are an unnessasary drain on resources.

For me it creates these 3 situations.
Early start to weekend parties . Saturday night we started at 6. Finished by 10. Of course because we knew there was a curfew we drank hard and fast. So driving home was pretty much the same. I never get to see street car racing. You should let me know where so I can explore this hidden gem.

When do you do the Papegaai twak?

Blake wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:35 pm Level 2

Booze, smokes, inter-provincial travel all allowed now.
Booze also allowed in restaurants until 22:00.
Parks, beaches and gyms to open.
Sport allowed but no crowds.
Gatherings limited to 50 max.

Masks still mandatory.
Curfew still in place.

I agreed with the initial 3 (extended to 5) week lockdown, which was there to prepare the health care system (which wasn't done). Ramaphosa last night said exactly this.

But after that initial 3/5 week lockdown, we should've gone straight to this level 2.

Levels 4, level 3, and "level 3 advanced" were all smoke and mirrors, to hide the government's failures in getting the hospitals ready. Having been classified an essential service/product, we went back to work during level 4, with some extra precautions, like having to wear masks, keeping registers of visitors etc. Basically exactly the same as this new level 2 (apart from having to fork out R60 for a packet of really kak cigarettes). Just about 80% of our customers were also back at work at level 4. I see no reason at all that the whole country couldn't go back to "normal but with special measures".

I did understand the booze ban though. Due to Saffas being heavy drinkers, and a violent nation. Not a good combo.

Stop whinging Saffers. It’s R250 for 20 fags in a fcuking supermarket over here!

troglodyte wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 5:40 pm

Blake wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:35 pm Level 2

Booze, smokes, inter-provincial travel all allowed now.
Booze also allowed in restaurants until 22:00.
Parks, beaches and gyms to open.
Sport allowed but no crowds.
Gatherings limited to 50 max.

Masks still mandatory.
Curfew still in place.

I agreed with the initial 3 (extended to 5) week lockdown, which was there to prepare the health care system (which wasn't done). Ramaphosa last night said exactly this.

But after that initial 3/5 week lockdown, we should've gone straight to this level 2.

I mostly agree with this.

I think it is important to make a distinction between:
a. Lockdown and the announcement on Lockdown Levels (made by medical professionals, academics etc)
b. And the restrictions that are applied at each Lockdown Level drawn up by bureaucrats in government

There regulations are by nature extremely flawed as they are rushed through without proper consultation and debate, and bad compromises between the governing party pushing their own agenda, labour unions, business, NGOs and some experts. The reality is it's been a clusterfuck and the very small silver lining has been that the bungling and corruption has pissed off a number of ANC voters as well.

The actual lockdown levels are more empirical and guided by best estimates of infection data. Our estimated R0 dipped below 0.5 last week, so we dropped to Level 2. My main criticism here is that the models and data used for decision making were not being transparently shared with the public. It would have been much more effective IMO, if they had published the model, discussed it every night on the news and given us something to aim for as a collective. Just saying "we need to flatten the curve" is useful as a slogan, but if they had given us provincial and national metrics to chase of each level to be reduced I think buy in would have been much better. Sometime like Infection Rate R0 (L1 <0.2, L2 <0.5, L3 <1, L4 < 1.2, L5>=1.2), Hospital Capacity (L5 < 5%, L4 < 10%, L3 < 15%, L4 < 20%, L5 < 25%) etc. When you see the numbers go up or down week to week, it becomes easier to justify wearing a mask to help the R0 go down and for everybody to pull in the same direction.

It's easy to say and hard to do, especially on the fly during the surge, but hopefully there will be some lessons learnt from this, and the NICD will plan better for the next pandemic, because there will be a next one.

My youngest is loving being back at school...I forgot I am the sandwich man so thats the only negative....

The oldest has been pretty much surrounded by friends as the parents of the older kids are a lot more flexible...he had 3 other mates around on the weekend as they were in my workshop building wooden things to sell to their friends and family....I fully endorse this initiative and have an order in for an enclosure for my sons crested Gekko which lost its home to another Bearded dragon that my youngest adopted last week as a rescue...( have 2 of the buggers now.)

As far as the older one , he is getting pretty arrogant with his mom lately and its a common thing amongst all our friends.....Too much familiarity with mom at home does that. And they are on the cusp of their voices cracking ( first kid has already ) and getting a full bush of ball hairs ... not just the odd hair here and there...so the hormones are working overtime. They are sick and tired of fortnite and GTA....Only do it out of total boredom now.

The youngest is starting to get very paranoid about hygiene.. We are not sure where this originated and suspect its from school. he is permanently washing his hands.....he says its because he doesn't want to infect his lizard but he is going a bit overboard and we are afraid he is becoming a germophobe...monitoring it closely. He also gets depressed because his mates don't do sleepovers yet and playdates are few .....I assure him its not him and rather that its me they parents don't like.... , but I do understand the parents concerns re Covid. We are very active socially still .... well maybe less than before but every weekend we arrange something so we don't go mad.....its great to hear other peoples kak....just to confirm we are not that bad..

Most people are looking after themselves and practicing safe hygiene...Not happy with the 10pm curfew....it only gets interesting at that point. But its a small sacrifice...just not used to early saturday nights.....selfish I know.

Work is great...having reduced its a lot more manageable and a lot less stress. A lot less turnover to chase and we are doing a lot more specialized work especially the charcoal ovens and the charcoal grillers.
The take away my wife handles in the morning and I go through after 2pm every day to check the progress on the site. The pressure is going to be on next week....and the following as we want to open on spring day , which is our anniversary. i am sure we will make it.....so the missus and I are coping well and busy , busy , busy......

Captains log
17/08/2020

So who was first to the bottle store this morning?

assfly wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 7:55 am So who was first to the bottle store this morning?

I went to my wife's shop this morning to meet the electrician to discuss what plug points etc. for the installation.

His car was there but he was nowhere to be found. Eventually he came waddling to his car carrying cases of beer and bottles of hard tac...

Ja....he was very happy to see the bottle store open.

I will maak a draai later...miss my brandy.

Not bothered, my wife still has about two bottles wine left, enough to last her till December. I'll probably buy some whiskey for the blood thinning latter on. Getting fed up with eating disprin like smarties.

Still about 20 bottles of brandy left, so will only stock up on my beer later this week.

Probably get a good, dry red for the cold.

I still have a few bottles of Whiskey and some wines left, so no hurry to stock up. Do not drink that much anyway, my drinking has always been more part of social gatherings or watching sport., so no desperate need to drink alcohol. But will most likely go and get some beer later this week or next week of there are no lines to wait in.

Although this morning it seemed that most lines were for Cigarettes and not Alcohol.

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:12 am I still have a few bottles of Whiskey and some wines left, so no hurry to stock up. Do not drink that much anyway, my drinking has always been more part of social gatherings or watching sport., so no desperate need to drink alcohol. But will most likely go and get some beer later this week or next week of there are no lines to wait in.

Although this morning it seemed that most lines were for Cigarettes and not Alcohol.

Ditto...except I might have some beer around but no brandy.....

Went out to the farm last weekend for the first time since it was burnt down. Beginning the long arduous task of rebuilding. It's in a pitiful state and for now it's mostly cleanup and not a lot of fuel is needed as it's still reasonably cool but once we move into the summer months I foresee a great consumption of golden liquid.

Got more than enough for a few more brannas...

Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

I got a contact who produce great red and white wine @ R60 per bottle. Direct from the cellars. Still have beer stock.

The good thing with the alcohol ban was that we stop drinking in the week, only weekends. My current stock is enough for another month.

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:58 am Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

I smoked for 20 + years and stop about 6 years ago via hypnotize.. Surely one of my biggest achievements in life. Smoking is expensive and a kak habit. IF I smoke again. I'll try pappegaai twak.

I was at PnP just now. One guy bought all the cartons on the shelve and asked if they had more in the storeroom.

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:58 am Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

Know of at least three who started again in lockdown after years of not smoking. Some smokers I know tried to quit at first but ended up buying the illicit crap at crazy prices anyways. I only know one lockdown quitter and he was late for work this morning, going from garage to garage looking for smokes.

Amethyst wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:10 pm I was at PnP just now. One guy bought all the cartons on the shelve and asked if they had more in the storeroom.

Idiot Manager should have limited him to 5 cartons.

Was reading how some of the petrol stations that managed to get cigarette stocks in before midnight already had most their stock sold out by 6am in the morning. Loads of people did not care much about the curfew and were just driving around after midnight from shop to shop looking for cigarettes.
Crazy what addictions make people do.

I am just glad In my whole life i never got addicted to anything to be this desperate to get hold of something.

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:41 pm Was reading how some of the petrol stations that managed to get cigarette stocks in before midnight already had most their stock sold out by 6am in the morning. Loads of people did not care much about the curfew and were just driving around after midnight from shop to shop looking for cigarettes.
Crazy what addictions make people do.

This is not an addiction-to-smoking thing. It's opportunists expecting a 3rd lockdown and another ban on smoking. Then they'll get into the illegal sales game and make a big profit. Cnuts.

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:41 pm Was reading how some of the petrol stations that managed to get cigarette stocks in before midnight already had most their stock sold out by 6am in the morning. Loads of people did not care much about the curfew and were just driving around after midnight from shop to shop looking for cigarettes.
Crazy what addictions make people do.

I am just glad In my whole life i never got addicted to anything to be this desperate to get hold of something.

Nicotine is a real bastard. I quit years ago and it was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. My wife begged me to just go and buy a packet after the first day. I was moody as fok, irritated with everyone and everything around. The temper would flair up at nothing and it only made the cravings worst. The first two days is really kak but it does not get better for at least two weeks. After the first two weeks you still get the odd craving but it's manageable.

Alcohol is easy for me. I can binge with the best of them and I can go dry for months without missing anything. As a youngster I experimented with everything except heroin and meth. Super C, Molly, Lucy, Marie Jane, Coke you name it, if I knew about it I did it. I never got hooked on any of it but I know if I were to take just one fag now it wont be a week and I'll be hooked again.

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:35 pm

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:41 pm Was reading how some of the petrol stations that managed to get cigarette stocks in before midnight already had most their stock sold out by 6am in the morning. Loads of people did not care much about the curfew and were just driving around after midnight from shop to shop looking for cigarettes.
Crazy what addictions make people do.

This is not an addiction-to-smoking thing. It's opportunists expecting a 3rd lockdown and another ban on smoking. Then they'll get into the illegal sales game and make a big profit. Cnuts.

Queen Dhlamini zol already said the ban will be back if the numbers go up again. Every country has a second peak so it's bound to happen. So ja the vultures are out in full getting ready. I just wonder why they just don't go straight to the wholesalers.

average joe wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:12 pm

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:58 am Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

Know of at least three who started again in lockdown after years of not smoking. Some smokers I know tried to quit at first but ended up buying the illicit crap at crazy prices anyways. I only know one lockdown quitter and he was late for work this morning, going from garage to garage looking for smokes.

I was one of those who tried to quit. Nothing to do with the lockdown - I've been wanting to quit for quite a while and thought the lockdown was the perfect timing. Not sure what my line of thinking was: thinking I could quit whilst being in the company of my wife, my Borderline Personality Disorder brother, Narcissistic sister-in-law and her senile mother 24/7. With my niece and her husband, both Narcissists, and their 2 beyond-naughty children showing up from time to time. And my brother, niece and her husband all smokers.

At least I got my freedom back yesterday when my wife and I moved into our own place again after 2.5 years.


Anyways, had my first Benson&Hedges earlier today, after 6 months of smoking very expensive RGs, Sharps, and other dodgy Chinese brands.

That B&H..... felt like a thousand fairies farting in my lungs

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:02 pm

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:58 am Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

I smoked for 20 + years and stop about 6 years ago via hypnotize.. Surely one of my biggest achievements in life. Smoking is expensive and a kak habit. IF I smoke again. I'll try pappegaai twak.

Sards is your man, surely

troglodyte wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:26 pm

average joe wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:12 pm

bok_viking wrote: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:58 am Would be quite interesting to see how many people might have stopped smoking during this ban. Might have forced quite a few people into giving up smoking that were considering it in the past but never had to will power to go through with it.

Know of at least three who started again in lockdown after years of not smoking. Some smokers I know tried to quit at first but ended up buying the illicit crap at crazy prices anyways. I only know one lockdown quitter and he was late for work this morning, going from garage to garage looking for smokes.

I was one of those who tried to quit. Nothing to do with the lockdown - I've been wanting to quit for quite a while and thought the lockdown was the perfect timing. Not sure what my line of thinking was: thinking I could quit whilst being in the company of my wife, my Borderline Personality Disorder brother, Narcissistic sister-in-law and her senile mother 24/7. With my niece and her husband, both Narcissists, and their 2 beyond-naughty children showing up from time to time. And my brother, niece and her husband all smokers.

At least I got my freedom back yesterday when my wife and I moved into our own place again after 2.5 years.


Anyways, had my first Benson&Hedges earlier today, after 6 months of smoking very expensive RGs, Sharps, and other dodgy Chinese brands.

That B&H..... felt like a thousand fairies farting in my lungs

Bennie en Hennie

Gents, anyone registered for the ballot for tickets for the British & Irish Lions tour next year?

I've just tried to, but anyone outside of SA has to go through the UK which is vokken expensive.

I've asked my family in Cape Town to all enter, but if any one of you lot is successful and are able to grab me a ticket for one of the tests, I'd be greatly obliged if I could buy one through you.

assfly wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:23 am Gents, anyone registered for the ballot for tickets for the British & Irish Lions tour next year?

I've just tried to, but anyone outside of SA has to go through the UK which is vokken expensive.

I've asked my family in Cape Town to all enter, but if any one of you lot is successful and are able to grab me a ticket for one of the tests, I'd be greatly obliged if I could buy one through you.

I’m registered in both hemispheres. We’ll see if the tour actually happens first.....

Good idea, I'll get on to the UK website.

I'm sure the tour will go ahead. 12 months to go and both countries are relaxing regulations.

As I understand it, you choose a match, pick your type of ticket and number of tickets, then you wait for the computer to choose at random. So if you want to better your chances, you can ask a few people to do the same on your behalf, but if you're lucky and are chosen with every entry, you could be sitting on plenty of tickets.

handyman wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:58 am As I understand it, you choose a match, pick your type of ticket and number of tickets, then you wait for the computer to choose at random. So if you want to better your chances, you can ask a few people to do the same on your behalf, but if you're lucky and are chosen with every entry, you could be sitting on plenty of tickets.

It gave me a choice of stadium but not how many games. But ja, you've got to be in it to win it. Pity they didn't put aside a few tickets for fellow African nations.

assfly wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:08 am

handyman wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:58 am As I understand it, you choose a match, pick your type of ticket and number of tickets, then you wait for the computer to choose at random. So if you want to better your chances, you can ask a few people to do the same on your behalf, but if you're lucky and are chosen with every entry, you could be sitting on plenty of tickets.

It gave me a choice of stadium but not how many games. But ja, you've got to be in it to win it. Pity they didn't put aside a few tickets for fellow African nations.

Agreed, with the Lions, you have to give it a shot.

assfly wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:23 am Gents, anyone registered for the ballot for tickets for the British & Irish Lions tour next year?

I've just tried to, but anyone outside of SA has to go through the UK which is vokken expensive.

I've asked my family in Cape Town to all enter, but if any one of you lot is successful and are able to grab me a ticket for one of the tests, I'd be greatly obliged if I could buy one through you.

I'll throw my name in for the Cape Town test and reach out if I'm successful.

Mini-cabal.

Any preference for the match you want to attend?
Saturday 24 July (first Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (R500 to R3 000)
Saturday 31 July (second Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (R500 to R3 000)
Saturday 7 August (third Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg (R500 to R3 000)

Blake wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 2:10 pm I'll throw my name in for the Cape Town test and reach out if I'm successful.

Mini-cabal.

Any preference for the match you want to attend?
Saturday 24 July (first Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (R500 to R3 000)
Saturday 31 July (second Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (R500 to R3 000)
Saturday 7 August (third Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg (R500 to R3 000)

You're a a top man

Preference is Joburg but happy to come down to CT too.

Wife gave me the green light to come down on my own

Has anybody seen Argus? He seemed a bit down the last I remember as he was going through a divorce. I miss his little cracks.

handyman wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:58 am As I understand it, you choose a match, pick your type of ticket and number of tickets, then you wait for the computer to choose at random. So if you want to better your chances, you can ask a few people to do the same on your behalf, but if you're lucky and are chosen with every entry, you could be sitting on plenty of tickets.

You only pay for the tickets you want, you don't have to accept them all if get a bonanza. Just reject the ones you don't want (although I'm sure any number of friends would take a ticket off your hands at face value).

Fangle wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 3:03 pm Has anybody seen Argus? He seemed a bit down the last I remember as he was going through a divorce. I miss his little cracks.

Didn't realize that. Terribly sorry for him. It's not an easy time. If he's lurking, you are in my thoughts dude.